Sports Betting Glossary

A comprehencive list of sports betting glossary terms, vocabulary and slang. Get familiar with the expressons of a true betting pro.

Accumulator - (Parlay)

Making multiple bets where the winnings of the first bet are passed on to the next bet and so on. The succeed with this strategy all selections must win.

Action

Any valid bet or wager is considered Action. The rules for what constitute a valid wager or bet varies from sport to sport.

All-In

If a bet is All-in refunds on the amount bet are given only if an event is cancelled. Not if a team or competitor is withdrawn or scratched.

All Up - (Accumulator)

All up means making a single wager on the outcome of multiple events. To get a possitiv outcome on a All Up wager all selections must win.

Ante Post

Placing a bet for on a future event, usually the day before the event in question. The Ante Post offers better odds at the risk of the wager will be considered no action if the team or competitor is scratched or cancelled.

Arbitrage

A combination of two odds that due to variations with different sports books guarantees the punter a win. Sounds like paradise right but be warned. Allot of problems arise when playing an arbitrage. Read more about it here: Arbitrage - A sure win?

Backed

A team on which a lot of bets have been placed.

Banker

A favorite. The term is also used to signify the strongest selection in an accumulator and in a permutation bet it is the selection that must win for the system to give any returns.

Beard (US)

A person acting as a front for the actual better who for some reason does not want the bookmaker or public to know his identity.

Bettor (US)

US term for a person who places a bet. The UK equivalent is punter.

Book

A bookmaker´s register of amounts bet on each competitor or team matched with odds assuring him of profit. Running a book is the act of quoting odds and accepting bets on an event and the person doing it is called a Bookmaker.

Bookie

Short for bookmaker. A person or corporation who run a book and accept bets. Bookmaker - Person who is licensed to accept bets on the result of an event based on their provision of odds to the customer. (Sportsbook US).

Bottle

UK slang, odds of 2 to 1.

Bridge-Jumper (US)

A Bettor who specializes in large show bets on odd-on favourites.

Buck (US)

A bet of $100

Burlington Bertie

The price of 100 to 30 (also known as "scruffy and dirty").

Buy Price

In Spread or Index betting, the higher figure quoted by an Index bookmaker.

Buy the Rack (US)

Purchase every possible daily-double or other combination ticket.

Canadian

Also known as a Super Yankee. A multiple bet consisting of 26 bets (10 doubles, 10 trebles, 5 4-folds and 1 5-fold) with 5 selections in different events

Carpet

UK slang for Odds of 3 to 1 (also known as "Tres" or "Gimmel").

Century

GBP£ 100 (also known as a "Ton").

Chalk

Betting favorite.

Chalk Player

A person who bets on favorites.

Circled Game

A game where the maximum bet is limited. The sportsbook or bookmaker puts a limit on the amount of action they are prepared to take on the game. Most bookies "Circle" all Ivy League Games and games where there are doubts about key players, weather or other important factors.

Closing Line

The final list of point spreads before game time.

Combination Bet

Putting a bet on a selection to finish first or second.

Cover

To bet the spread by the required number of points.

Credit Betting

Using credit with a bookmaker to place a bet.

Daily Double

The bettor makes a combination bet on two horses in two races. If the bettor wins on the 1st race, his winnings roll on to the 2nd.

Dead Hit

An equal finish.

Deposit Betting

Betting with money deposited in advance with a bookmaker.

Dime (US)

A bet of $1,000 USD (also known as a "dime bet").

Dividend

The agreed payout or return on any bet.

Dog (US)

The underdog in any betting proposition.

Dog Player (US)

A bettor who favors wagering on the underdog.

Dollar Bet

A $100 wager.

Double(s)

A form of parlay or accumulator. A combination bet where the bettor wagers on the outcome of two events or two aspects of the same event.

Double Carpet

UK slang for Odds of 33 to 1, based on "Carpet".

Double or Nothing

A bet that pays off exactly the amount wagered.

Draw

An even finish.

Drift

Odds that "Lengthen", are said to have drifted, or be "On the Drift".

Edge

To have an advantage when placing a bet.

Even Money

A 1:1 odds bet in which no vigorish or juice is laid.).

Exotic

Any bet other than a straight bet.

Favorite

A team or individual rated most likely to win by the sports books.

Field

All competitors in an event

Fixed Game

A game where the outcome is tampered with by one or many of the competitors.

Fixed Odds

Your divined is fixed at the time you receive your ticket and does not fluctuate no matter what happens after this point.

Flash (US)

Change of odds information on tote board.

Fold

Indicates the number of selections in an accumulator.

Futures

(Also, Ante Post) Bets made in advance predicting the outcome of a future event.

Grand

(Big´un). £ 1,000

Grand Slam

the four major golf tournaments The Masters, U.S. Open, British Open, PGA Championship (Professional Golf Association). The four major tennis tournaments Wimbledon, Australian Open, French Open, U.S. Open. Handicap - Spread.

Home Field Advantage

The edge for the home team.

Hoops

Slang for basketball.

IBF

International Boxing Federation.

Index Betting

Spread betting.

Joint Favorites

When a sports book finds it hard to predict the winning team both teams can be joint favorites.

Jolly

Favorite/Favourite

Juice

The bookmaker´s commission, also known as vigorish or vig.

Layer

Another term for Bookmaker.

Lines

Odds offered to the bettor.

Linemaker

A person who compiles betting lines.

Lock

(As in "Banker") US term for easy winner.

MLB

Major League Baseball.

Money Line

(Also, Action Line or Spread Betting) The amount wagered to win $100, or the amount won for a $100 wager.

Multiples

See "Accumulator".

MVP

Most Valuable Player.

NBA

National Basketball Association.

NCAA

National Collegiate Athletic Association.

NFL

National Football League.

NHL

National Hockey League.

Nickel

$500

Odds

The sports books prediction of the chance for a competitor to win. Calculated to give the sports book a profit from bets made.

Odds-against

Where the odds are greater than evens (e.g. 5 to 2).

Odds Compiler

See oddsmaker

Oddsmaker

Someone who sets the betting odds.

Off the Board (US)

A game or event on which the sports book will not accept action.

Outsiders

The opposite to a favorite.

Over/Under

Making a bet that the total of point or goals in a match will be over or under a specific number.

Parlay

See accumulator

Permutations

To "perm" selections. For example, if you have made 3 selections (A, B and C) you can "perm" all the possible doubles. In this case all the doubles possible are AB, AC, and BC; a total of 3 individual bets, or lines. Similarly, if you have made 4 selections (A, B, C and D) you can also "perm" all the possible doubles from these four. Now the doubles are AB, AC, AD, BC, BD, CD; a total of 6 individual bets, or lines.

Picks

Betting selections. Usually those selections made by an expert.

PK or Pick

Evenly matched teams.

Place

A bet made that a team or competitor will finish in the top three (four or five in some sports) A Place bet f the selection you bet on is among those placed. Terms may vary between different sportsbooks.

Point Spread

(Also, Handicap) The points allocated to the "underdog" to level the odds with the "favorite/favourite".

Price

The odds.

Pucks

Slang for hockey.

Punter

Bettor.

Push

A game that is tied when the point spread is factored in.

Return

The total of winnings on a bet.

Scalper

A person who attempts to profit from arbitrage.

Shorten

Refers to odds getting shorter and thus less attractive to the bettor.

Single

(straight-up bet) A single bet made on one selection to win.

Sportsbook

The person, shop or website who accepts bets.

Spread

Point Spread.

Spread Betting

(Action Line) See money line

Stanley Cup

Championship of Hockey.

Steam

When a betting line starts to move quite rapidly, usually caused by many bettors betting on it.

Store (US)

A sportsbook or a bookie.

Super Bowl

NFL Championship game.

System

A method of betting, usually mathematically based, used by a bettor to try to get an advantage.

Thick´un

A big bet.

Tie

A push, stand-off or a draw.

Tips

Picks. The selections and predictions of a competitors performance for an event from an expert or observer.

Totals

See over/under

Tote

Short for Totalisator. A system introduced to Britain in 1929 to offer pool betting on racecourses.

Trebles

A triple bet on three events. A form of accumulator.

True Odds

The factual odds of a result as opposed to that offered by a sportsbook.

Two and Three Balls Betting

A bet made on what golf player in a group of two or three will have the lowest score on a 18 hole course.

Underdog

The team that receives a point start in a handicap.

Value

Getting the best odds on a wager.

Vigorish or Vig.

The commission paid to the bookmaker.

VS

Versus, against.

WBA

World Boxing Association.

WBC

World Boxing Council.

Welsh/Welch

To fail to pay a gambling bet.

Wise Guy

A knowledgeable handicapper or bettor.

WNBA

Womens National Basketball Association.

World Series

Championship of Major League Baseball (MLB). The final seven games of the baseball playoffs between the two league champions to determine the world champion.

Yankee

4 selections, comprising 6 doubles, 4 trebles and 1 accumulator.